Arfak Mountains, 2400 m, Irian Jaya, Indonesia Photograph by © WWF-Canon/Ian CRAVEN   Northern portion of the island of New Guinea Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   9,000 square miles (23,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of New Hampshire Critical/Endangered

· Birds in the Bowers
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Birds in the Bowers

These isolated mountains are alive with bird "romance." Here, the rarest bird species in all of Papua New Guinea, the fire-maned bowerbird, builds intricate structures out of twigs and other materials. But these are not nests for raising young. Rather, males build these bowers to attract females for mating, often decorating them with pebbles, moss, or other colorful objects.

Special Features

These moist tropical montane forests have more even canopies than the lowland hill forests of New Guinea. Tree and shrub density is high, and species are varied, with conifers increasing with altitude. In certain areas, beech and evergreen species may grow in pure, dense stands.

	Bowerbirds are not only architects of the natural world, they are also accomplished artists. Males sometimes "paint" the walls of their bower with plant or berry juice, adding the color to attract females.

Wild Side

A high percentage of northern New Guinea’s birds and mammals are endemic to this ecoregion. Six of this ecoregion’s 51 mammal species are endemic or near-endemic to these mountain forests, including the Cyclops long-beaked echidna, D’Albertis ringtail, Scott’s tree kangaroo, rock-dwelling rat, and northern glider. There are also a number of endemic bird species including the rare fire-maned bowerbird, Mayr’s forest-rail, Mayr’s honeyeater, and the golden-fronted bowerbird.

Cause for Concern

This ecoregion remains relatively safe due to its inaccessibility and isolation. However, the Cyclops Mountains--one of the isolated parts of this ecoregion--are close to population centers, which threaten to push development into formerly pristine areas. Furthermore, the conservation of New Guinea’s fruit-eating species, especially birds, is essential. By consuming fruit, these species disperse seeds in their droppings, thus helping to maintain the lush tropical evergreen forests they depend on.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.